Mastering the phrase "all done" in Spanish requires more than memorizing a single translation. Whether you are putting down a fork after a meal, submitting a final project at work, or telling a toddler their bath is over, the vocabulary shifts. Because Spanish is a language rich in regional nuance and grammatical gender, the "correct" way to say you have finished depends entirely on what is finished, who finished it, and where you are speaking. This guide breaks down the most common, natural ways to express this concept so you sound like a native speaker in any context.
The Two Heavy Hitters: Terminar vs. Acabar
If you only learn two verbs for "to finish," make them terminar and acabar. They are the backbone of expressing completion, but they carry different weights.
Terminar: The Standard "To Finish"
Terminar is your go-to verb for completing a task, a job, a race, or a meal. It feels deliberate and process-oriented. Because it is a regular -ar verb, conjugation is straightforward Easy to understand, harder to ignore..
- Yo termino (I finish / I am finishing)
- Tú terminas (You finish)
- Él/Ella/Usted termina (He/She/You formal finishes)
- Nosotros terminamos (We finish)
- Vosotros termináis (You all finish — Spain)
- Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes terminan (They/You all finish)
Common structures:
- Terminé. (I finished / I’m done.) — Simple, past tense, very common.
- Ya terminé. (I’m already done.) — Adding ya (already) adds emphasis that the action is complete now.
- Terminé la tarea. (I finished the homework.) — Transitive use with a direct object.
Acabar: The Nuanced "To End" or "To Just Finish"
Acabar is slightly more complex. It often implies the end of a state or a period of time, not just a task. Crucially, it forms the essential "Acabar de + infinitive" structure to say you just did something.
- Acabo de terminar. (I just finished.) — This is distinct from "I am done." It highlights the immediate past.
- Se acabó. (It’s over / It’s finished / It’s all gone.) — This reflexive, impersonal form is incredibly versatile. Use it when the movie ends, the bottle of wine is empty, or a relationship is over.
Key Distinction: Use terminar for the act of completing a specific task (Terminé el informe). Use acabar for the state of being finished or the end of something (El dinero se acabó — The money ran out) Not complicated — just consistent..
The Adjective Route: Listo (Ready / Done / Finished)
In daily conversation, especially in Latin America, the adjective listo is arguably the most frequent way to say "all done." It agrees in gender and number with the subject.
- ¡Listo! (Done! / Ready! / All set!) — Masculine singular. The universal default.
- ¡Lista! (Done! / Ready!) — Feminine singular. A female speaker says this about herself.
- ¡Listos! / ¡Listas! (We’re done / All set!) — Plural forms.
Grammar Trap Alert: Do not confuse listo (adjective: ready/finished) with listo (adverb: quickly/cleverly).
- Estoy listo. = I am ready / I am done. (Adjective, matches subject yo).
- Lo hice listo. = I did it quickly. (Adverb, invariable).
Usage Examples:
- ¿Ya estás listo? (Are you ready / Are you done yet?)
- La cena está lista. (Dinner is ready / done cooking.)
- ¡Ya está listo! (It’s all done! / It’s ready!) — Referring to an object, a meal, or a project.
The "Mission Accomplished" Vibe: Completado and Finalizado
When the tone shifts from casual to professional, academic, or technical, terminado feels too simple. You will see and hear these past participles used as adjectives (agreeing with the noun they modify):
- Completado / Completada (Completed) — Standard for forms, downloads, surveys, and checklists. El formulario está completado.
- Finalizado / Finalizada (Finalized / Concluded) — Formal. Used for contracts, events, construction projects, or official processes. El proyecto ha sido finalizado.
- Concluido / Concluida (Concluded) — Similar to finalizado, often used for meetings, investigations, or academic terms.
The "That's It / No More" Expressions
Sometimes "all done" means "I’m stopping now" or "There is no more left."
Ya está / Ya está todo
This is the ultimate pragmatic phrase. It translates loosely to "That’s it," "It’s done," "Okay, finished," or "There you go."
- Handing a receipt to a customer: Ya está.
- Putting the last box in the truck: Ya está todo. (Everything is done/there.)
- Calming a crying child after a scrape: Ya está, ya pasó. (There, there, it’s over.)
No hay más / Se acabó
Use these when supplies run out or an option is no longer available.
- Kid asks for more cookies: No hay más. (There isn't any more.)
- End of a limited sale: Se acabó. (It's over / Sold out.)
Contextual Scenarios: Choosing the Right Phrase
To truly internalize this, map the phrase to the situation.
1. Finishing a Meal
- Casual/Standard: Ya terminé or Terminé de comer.
- Signaling the waiter: Ya terminé, gracias. (Often accompanied by placing knife and fork parallel on the plate).
- Describing the food: La comida está lista. (The food is ready/done cooking).
2. Finishing Work or Homework
- Student: Ya terminé la tarea. / Ya acabé los ejercicios.
- Professional (Email/Slack): La tarea está completada. / He finalizado el reporte.
- Closing the laptop for the day: Me voy, ya terminé. (I'm leaving, I'm done for the day).
3. With Children (Parenting/Caregiving)
- Bath time over: ¡Ya está! / Terminamos. (We're done).
- Game over: Se acabó el juego. / ¡Listo, a guardar! (Done, time to clean up!).
- Potty training success: ¡Listo! / Ya hiciste. (All done / You did it).
4. Digital & Tech Contexts
- Progress bar: Cargando... Completado. / Descarga finalizada.
- Form submission: Su solicitud ha sido enviada / completada con éxito.
- Gaming: Nivel completado / superado.
Regional Flavors: Spain vs. Latin America
While mutually intelligible
